Editorial: Now it's Marin voters' turn to cast their ballots

THIRTY-five years ago, President Jimmy Carter spoke at a "Get Out the Vote" rally in New York. He spoke about the political clout of well-financed special interests and urged voters to exercise their considerable power — and vote.

"I believe the best way to make sure that we have equitable and fair treatment in our country for average citizens is to make sure that on Election Day your voices are the ones to be heard," Carter said.

On this Election Day, voters have been called back to the polls to do their part in our democratic elections.

Polling places across our county open at 7 a.m. and pollworkers will remain on duty for 13 hours until voting closes at 8 p.m.

Politicians and local campaigns have worked hard to capture voters' attention and support. Candidates and volunteers have spent thousands of dollars and hours in hope of winning over voters. They have knocked on doors, filled mailboxes and some have sent voters robocalls.

Now it is time for voters to do their own homework, make up their own minds, make their choices and cast their ballots.

Every vote is counted the same. The ballot box is one place where it doesn't matter where you live, whether you live in an apartment or a mansion, whether you are working or retired, whether you've lived here all your life or have just become a citizen or whether you are 18 or 108. Each vote counts the same.

Votes that are not cast cannot be counted.

In today's election, Marin Registrar of Voters Elaine Ginnold expects that only about half of Marin's registered voters will cast their ballots.

"We'll be around 50 percent, or slightly lower," she said on Monday.

This, despite the fact that it has never been easier for Marin's more than 147,000 voters to do their part in our democratic process.

Voters have been able to mail in their ballots since early May. Ginnold's office even offered ballot drop-offs over the weekend for voters who had not yet sent in their mail-in votes.

Those who still have their mail-in ballots can still vote at their polling place or any other across the county and drop off their ballot.

Still, poll officials are expecting a light turnout — in a county that frequently posts the highest turnout in the state.

For instance, in the 2008 presidential election, turnout was 90.8 percent. But voter participation slips during state primaries. In the 2010 primary, which featured more contested state campaigns and several political reform measures, turnout was 57.9 percent.

Traditionally, voters are more engaged in national elections because they get a lot more widespread media attention than state and local races.

Voters who have questions about their polling place can call the elections office at 473-6456 or check the registrar's website — www.marincounty.org/depts/rv. Today, the county will have 650 people staffing 98 polling places and working on the election across the county.

While there are decisions that need to be made on every ballot, some ballots are not as long as others. There are hard-fought contests for county supervisor seats in Novato and San Rafael, but not in other parts of the county.

The only countywide vote is Measure B, the decision on whether to allow the construction of a permanent farmers market on a site on the Marin Civic Center campus.

Countywide, Marin voters also have decisions to make on state offices and two propositions, including a bond measure for low-income housing and homeless shelters and services for veterans and making state open government laws part of the state constitution.

These are important issues.

Low turnouts magnify the importance of every vote. Sadly, some political campaigns are steered toward elections where there's a greater promise of a small turnout.

In some cases, it means that taxes are charged or rejected and candidates win or lose, based on minority vote.

In 1964, then-Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote, in a ruling on voting rights, that "the right to vote freely for the candidates of one's choice is of the essence of a democratic society."

Today, it is voters' turn, their opportunity — if not their civic duty — to cast their vote, have their say and exercise their right.